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The associations between self-consciousness and internalizing/externalizing problems among Chinese adolescents
Yan-Gang Nie1, Jian-Bin Li2, Kai Dou3
1Department of Psychology, School of Education, Guangzhou University, 510006, China; Psychological and Behavioral Research Center of Cantonese, Guangzhou University, 510006, China.
Journal of Adolescence
|June 17, 2014
Summary
Self-consciousness facets significantly predict adolescent internalizing and externalizing problems. Understanding these links offers insights into preventing behavioral issues in Chinese youth.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Developmental Psychology
- Adolescent Psychology
Background:
- Self-consciousness is a complex, hierarchical construct.
- It encompasses self-evaluation, self-experience, and self-control.
- Adolescent mental health is a significant concern, with internalizing and externalizing problems being common.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate self-consciousness as a preventative factor for internalizing and externalizing problems in Chinese adolescents.
- To examine the relationship between different facets of self-consciousness and adolescent behavioral issues.
Main Methods:
- A quantitative study involving 1202 Chinese adolescents (grades 7-12).
- Participants completed questionnaires assessing self-consciousness and internalizing/externalizing problems.
- Statistical analyses controlled for demographic variables.
Main Results:
- Lower-order factors (satisfaction, anxiety, social self, self-restraint, self-esteem, self-monitoring) and higher-order subscales (self-evaluation, self-experience) predicted internalizing problems.
- Externalizing problems were predicted by self-restraint, satisfaction, self-monitoring, self-control, and self-experience.
- Different aspects of self-consciousness were uniquely associated with internalizing versus externalizing problems.
Conclusions:
- Self-consciousness plays a differential role in the development of internalizing and externalizing problems among Chinese adolescents.
- Specific components of self-consciousness, such as self-evaluation, self-experience, and self-control, are crucial targets for intervention.
- Findings provide a foundation for developing targeted prevention strategies for adolescent behavioral problems.
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